Baldwinsville students teach lessons of bullying, respect

Peter Chen / The Post-StandardJohn Taylor, 13, (from left to right) Becca Eberl, 14, and Kirby Socker, 14, all ninth graders at Durgee Junior High School, in Baldwinsville, perform a skit on rumors for Dan Deemer's eighth grade social studies class at the school. At far right is Hannah Sims, 13, an eighth grade student.

Baldwinsville, NY -- Ninth-grade students rapped about the dress code, demonstrated how a rumor can spread and illustrated how to defuse a bully on Friday to eighth graders at Durgee Junior High School in Baldwinsville.

The students are part of the Durgee Leadership Team and they performed skits to discuss sensitive school issues with their younger classmen.

“Nothing is more effective for students than to see their peers being the leaders,” said Principal Bonnie Van Benschoten. “Students react to the information differently when it comes from their peers rather than from a teacher or administrator.”

The Durgee Leadership Team, which is comprised of 37 ninth-graders, was founded in 2005 to promote a positive school environment, said the program’s director Chris Marciniak, who is also a guidance counselor for the school.

The team split into four groups on Friday and presented several skits to eighth grade students during social studies classes throughout the day. The skits are designed to explore the issues of Internet safety, bullying, rumors, academic support, dress code, diversity and fulfilling the sport’s contract.

“The skits make the kids aware of what is going on around them,” Marciniak said. “Some kids aren’t even aware that there is bullying going on at school. Now they are hyper aware of the situation. The DLT leaders do a good job addressing that.”

Jamie Robinson, 14, said she volunteered to help the school create a better environment for all students. Robinson said she thought verbal bullying and rumors were issues that effected students the most at Durgee. She said there are ways students can stop rumors.

“If they hear a rumor they can just stop it, they don’t have to spread it,” Robinson said. “Or they could go ask the person that the rumor is about if it’s true. They can also tell an adult about it.”

Gabrielle Piraino, 14, said she is hoping students understand that it is good to do the right thing.

“I think the most important message to give to eighth-graders is to be a leader, not a follower,” she said. “It’s OK to stand up for what’s right.”